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DOC/PTO RIN: 0651-AD72 Publication ID: Spring 2024 
Title: ●PTAB Rules of Practice for Briefing Discretionary Denial Issues, and Rules for 325(d) Considerations, Instituting Parallel and Serial Petitions, and Termination Due to Settlement Agreement 
Abstract:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) proposes modifications to the rules of practice for inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) that the Director and, by delegation, the PTAB will use in exercising discretion to institute IPRs and PGRs. The Office proposes these provisions in light of stakeholder feedback received in response to a Request for Comments (RFC) and an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). The proposals enhance and build on existing precedent and guidance regarding the exercise of the Director’s discretion pursuant to the America Invents Act (AIA) to determine whether to institute an IPR or PGR proceeding with regard to serial petitions, parallel petitions, and petitions implicating the same or substantially the same art or arguments previously presented to the Office. The proposed rules also provide a separate briefing process for discretionary institution arguments and align the procedures for termination of proceedings pre- and post-institution.

 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 37 CFR 42   
Legal Authority: 35 USC 2    35 USC 6    35 USC 21    35 USC 23    35 USC 41    35 USC 135    35 USC 311-319    35 USC 321-329    PL 112-129    PL 112-274   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  04/19/2024  89 FR 28693   
NPRM Comment Period End  06/18/2024 
Final Action  To Be Determined 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Related RINs: Split from 0651-AD47 
Agency Contact:
Michael Tierney
Vice Chief Administrative Patent Judge
Department of Commerce
Patent and Trademark Office
600 Dulany Street, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Phone:571 272-9797
Fax:571 273-0053
Email: michael.tierney@uspto.gov